Any Biologists or smart people around?

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Andrew R

Andrew R

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Paintguzzlinpete
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RepairedCarrot8
Well, as I have already discussed in the conversation forum, I'm having some problems with a biology assignment. Our task is to do what that call and Extended Experimental Investigation (EEI) which is basically designing a whole experiment and testing it out. My teacher is one of those teachers who think she's there to 'teach us to teach ourselves'....what's she getting paid for then?...that's a debate for another day though. Anyway, I have chosen to test the effectiveness of antiseptics on bacteria.

I rung the local university as directed by my teacher to try and get a bacteria culture but they aren't allowed to give them out so the Uni chick who is very helpful I might add (probably going to confer everything with her) suggested I make my own bacteria culture with the cheek swab sample. This brings the first problem, the lab technician at my school said that if I tell her what bacteria I'm aiming to grow for this and it's right conditions, she'll set it up for me. Does anybody know what bacteria will grow from the cheek tissue? Preferably the best multiplying. The second problem is deciding on what antiseptics to use, I'd prefer something readily available but I'd take any suggestions on board.

Thanks for reading my rant and any help would be majorly appreciated.
 
Yeah, that's what I was thinking, I know Touring Mars was more than willing to help with my last predicament in biology.

Anyway guys, it's bedtime, I'll check back in the morning. G'night.
 
I wouldn't bother with cheek swabs - especially since you run the risk of culturing Neisseria meningiditis (50% of us carry it in the back of our throat at any given time - and it's commonly known as bacterial meningitis).

Just use your fingers. You'll get some Staphylococcus aureus, no problem. Maybe some Escherichia coli if you don't wash after wiping.

To culture, you'll need a basic agar - or, if you're feeling lucky, some MacConkey agar - and some petri dishes.

For antiseptics, I have no idea what you have available...

And you might like to peruse this page for a quick guide on basic technique.
 
Anderton Prime
Famine, why don't more people contract bacterial meningitis if so many of us carry it in our throats?
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I'll answer this as my school has just had a Meningitis outbreak (Read, 2 pupils out of 800), though we were given considerably better odds. 1 in 15 had it.

Basically most 'carriers' have naturally occuring bacteria that counters the bad bacteria and prevents it from spreading. This is why they don't like giving the strong antibiotics that kill the Meningitis bacteria, mainly because it also kills the good bacteria.
 
So people who contract meningitis haven't got that good bacteria? Have they lost it somehow, or did they never have it in the first place? Is there some cause to having it disappear and thus allowing the meningitis to take hold and spread?

I am scared of meningitis, mainly because of these two words:

Spinal Tap.

And no, I don't mean the band.
 
Anderton Prime
So people who contract meningitis haven't got that good bacteria? Have they lost it somehow, or did they never have it in the first place? Is there some cause to having it disappear and thus allowing the meningitis to take hold and spread?

I am scared of meningitis, mainly because of these two words:

Spinal Tap.

And no, I don't mean the band.
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It's a mixture.

Some never have teh good bacteria, perhaps because antibiotics kick it out, sometimes they just lose it or an imbalance is formed. I don't know the specifics TBH, just what I picked up off my Biology teacher.
 
911_Carrera
What's a bilogist? I might be one.
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Good God, I need to have my eyes checked. I never noticed. :scared:

Nice catch.
 
I hate the phrase "good bacteria". It really, really annoys me.

We have, at any given time, 20+ species of bacteria living on/in us. For the most part they exist in a symbiotic relationship - this is what people call "good bacteria", because they do a job for us. But if they get into the wrong place they can cause serious harm.

An example is the aforementioned Escherichia coli - more commonly known as E. coli. We ALL have it, in our colon (hence the name). It aids digestion - a "good bacterium", right? But if we ingest it, it can cause food poisoning - fatal food poisoning (Google "E. coli 0157"). Not so good now, huh?


Meningitis is a brain infection. The presence of N. meningidits in the throat is not harmful* - it is only when it gets into the region of the brain, where it can multiply unchecked that meningitis arises.


*Sort of. Don't worry about it though.
 
Cuts, other infections - anything that allows them access to the bloodstream (septicaemia) really.
 
I think Master_Yoda was actually making fun of himself for not understanding Famine's super-scientist-like-intellect... It was a joke. :dunce:
 
You should be able to get agar-loaded petri from your doc if all else fails. My grandpa (who's a doctor. :rolleyes: ) hooks me up with them if I need them, anyway. BacteriaSoil was kind of a flop. :lol: Stupid plants.

"Yoda", shut up, man. The jedi wouldn't ever accept you anyway. You'd be herding Banthas day after day.
 
Famine
I hate the phrase "good bacteria". It really, really annoys me.

We have, at any given time, 20+ species of bacteria living on/in us. For the most part they exist in a symbiotic relationship - this is what people call "good bacteria", because they do a job for us. But if they get into the wrong place they can cause serious harm.

An example is the aforementioned Escherichia coli - more commonly known as E. coli. We ALL have it, in our colon (hence the name). It aids digestion - a "good bacterium", right? But if we ingest it, it can cause food poisoning - fatal food poisoning (Google "E. coli 0157"). Not so good now, huh?


Meningitis is a brain infection. The presence of N. meningidits in the throat is not harmful* - it is only when it gets into the region of the brain, where it can multiply unchecked that meningitis arises.


*Sort of. Don't worry about it though.
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Lesson learned. Don't eat ****
 
and don't suck your thumb after a prostate examination... nor grab your chin immediately after in order to ponder the situation.
 
Thanks for the help guys, greatly appreciated.


:indiff:I actually spelled 'Biologist' wrong?! What a brain fart, I blame it on 11pm and the Olympics distracting me.
 
standard235
Lesson learned. Don't eat ****
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Yeah, not to mention Hepatitis A.

Famine, I assume you also have a problem with the "good cholersterol" and "bad cholesterol" terminology?
 
Omnis
and don't suck your thumb after a prostate examination... nor grab your chin immediately after in order to ponder the situation.
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Damnit, i was just plaining to suck my thumb...... damn cheetos.
 

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